“News” coverage has tilted towards the violent and sensational for a very long time. “If it bleeds it leads.” This has the effect of persuading people that the world is more dangerous than it is. Statistically, it would seem as though we live in one of the least violent times on record. All politicians prey on fear, but irrational fear is the central emotional focus for the conservatives and the nativists. Republicans tend to play on fears of the the improbable, however, whereas Democrats play on real fears like healthcare, hunger, education, crumbling infrastructure, climate change, and the like. Meanwhile, the conservatives gin up fear of less probable, but more “emotionally shocking” issues like those involving non-Caucasians, terrorism, crime, and the like. It really does point to a bright dividing line in worldview. One group uses fear to address big, but very impactful and real problems, the other wants to inflate improbable events with a bunch of harem scarem nonsense.
There is not defending the tactics of ISIL, true. But how many mass graves resulted from “shock and awe”? Let he without sin, NOT cast the first stone for a change?
The Syrian Revolution began because extended drought led to crop failures in formerly very fertile areas, drinking farmers into towns for jobs, that didn’t exist.
Yes drought driving farmers off the land and starting a revolution is just a distraction. And we’re in the Middle East and talking about taking over Syria, why?
I vaguely remember an SF story from back when Palestinian terrorists were the big threat, in which the media agreed to call all terrorists “Wally” and ridicule them publicly. Don’t remember how the story turned out.
What would be nice is if the media would stop confusing a fact with opinion…they’re like a dog with a bone. Even if there is no story there, the “perception” or “optics” is what they’ll talk about and make the story something it really isn’t. Talk about dishonest.
twclix over 7 years ago
“News” coverage has tilted towards the violent and sensational for a very long time. “If it bleeds it leads.” This has the effect of persuading people that the world is more dangerous than it is. Statistically, it would seem as though we live in one of the least violent times on record. All politicians prey on fear, but irrational fear is the central emotional focus for the conservatives and the nativists. Republicans tend to play on fears of the the improbable, however, whereas Democrats play on real fears like healthcare, hunger, education, crumbling infrastructure, climate change, and the like. Meanwhile, the conservatives gin up fear of less probable, but more “emotionally shocking” issues like those involving non-Caucasians, terrorism, crime, and the like. It really does point to a bright dividing line in worldview. One group uses fear to address big, but very impactful and real problems, the other wants to inflate improbable events with a bunch of harem scarem nonsense.
Dtroutma over 7 years ago
There is not defending the tactics of ISIL, true. But how many mass graves resulted from “shock and awe”? Let he without sin, NOT cast the first stone for a change?
oneoldhat over 7 years ago
air conditioners are the number 1 threat
Kip W over 7 years ago
“Damn it, Noah! The real threat is the town next to us!”
Dtroutma over 7 years ago
The Syrian Revolution began because extended drought led to crop failures in formerly very fertile areas, drinking farmers into towns for jobs, that didn’t exist.
Dtroutma over 7 years ago
Yes drought driving farmers off the land and starting a revolution is just a distraction. And we’re in the Middle East and talking about taking over Syria, why?
SKJAM! Premium Member over 7 years ago
I vaguely remember an SF story from back when Palestinian terrorists were the big threat, in which the media agreed to call all terrorists “Wally” and ridicule them publicly. Don’t remember how the story turned out.
Buzz the Bear over 7 years ago
What would be nice is if the media would stop confusing a fact with opinion…they’re like a dog with a bone. Even if there is no story there, the “perception” or “optics” is what they’ll talk about and make the story something it really isn’t. Talk about dishonest.